Ethical Filter

Ethical Filter Worksheet

Value

Personal Source

with Examples

Justify the Value's Position in the List. Include any challenges to employing these values consistently when making personal and organizational decisions.

Lead by example

The training and experience in the military has indoctrinated me ( I'm unashamed to say) to believe and support the awesome responsibility that leaders provide in their organization. Poor leaders almost always fail themselves, their organization and their subordinates. Many of the discussion questions and dialog among the class members show failure of leadership in setting or maintaining a high standard. While no one is perfect, the expectation I carry each day is that as a leader I can make a difference for myself, my team and my organization.

The main challenge in leading by example is internalizing the rewards. Leading is not for the uncommitted. People see right through that smoke screen. Personal satisfaction is achieved in taking tough jobs and doing them well without complaining, leading a team of people working just as hard as necessary to get the work done. The biggest organizational challenge when faced with senior leaders who do not lead by example is to remain true to my value and not lower the standard. My boss doesn't carry a work cell phone or a blackberry so that if you don't catch him in his office or leave word with his administrative assistant it's tough to get a quick answer when issues arrive. I lead the first team, both government and support contractors to all carry and use a blackberry. I'm not afraid to role up my sleeve and help in tasks large and small. This shows payback when I need my subordinates to rise to unexpected challenges. They know they can count on me. The doctrine of leadership and the need to make it first among my values is tried and true with many military books showcasing this trait.

Balance

(Work smart/hard, play, live)

There is a season for everything under the sun. Figuring out what season it is helps reduce personal stress, organizational turmoil and promotes the idea that even bad moments won't last forever. Believing that in the economy of work their has to be a balance, this formula driven method is time tested. Plan the work, communicate with others (the smart), establish milestones, task, delegate, coordinate, (the hard part) and find a reason to praise,

reward and savor success. For me personally the balance seems at times weighted toward the hard work.